Circular fashioning knitting-machine.



jA., M. PIGEON. CIRCULARTASHIONING KNIUING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, |911* Y Patented Jan. 16,1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. MA PIGEON.

CIRCULAR FASHVIONING KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented J an. 16, 1917'.Y

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, I9II.

Wwf/ I A. M. PIGEON.

CIRCULAR FASHIONING KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 191|. Patented Jan. 16,1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

y WMV/ A. M. PIGEUN; CIRCULARHFASHIONING KNITTING MACHINE.

APPlrIQATlO'N FILED MAY25| 19H.

Patented Jan.16,1917.

www.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFioE.

ALBERT PIGEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO PIGEON MACHINE COMPANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION' OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1.6, 1.91"?.

Application filed May 25, 1911. Serial No. 629,260.

To all rwhom #may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT M. Piemon, of the city of Philadelphia, county of lfhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented 'certain new and' useful Improvements in Circular Fashioning Knitting-Machines, whereof the followingr is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to new and useful ilnpro'veinel'its-in circular fashioning knitting machines, and more especially to knit ting machines of the. cylinder type wherein the cylinder may be rotated for circnlar lmitting or oseillated at certain intervals,` if desired'.

A further object ol the invention is to provide a picker with a eliamferecl end which allows the picker to give the full movement toi-the needle, e.. from active to inactive position or vire versa, without additional 'cams for completing the movement thereby decreasing the extent of movement ot' 'theV needle and .increasing the elhrieney of the picker operating mechanism.

An object of the invention is to provide ay narrowing picker which is so constructed as to engage the lnittsI ofthe needles, Aor the operating parts for the, needles, and to move the needles from active position to idle yposition, the lifting of the needle" and the disengagement of the same from the picker l eingV lironght about hy the movement oi the needle cylinder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a widening pit-ker which ope ates to carryY down two needles at: -thesame time from idle position to active position` which picker is also so Construeted as to operate npon the advance needles at liotih endsI ol' the idle series, during the oscillating;f movennnts of' the cylinder.

A, further object of tho linvention is to provide ay construction ol' needle v vlinder and needle jacks. wherein*Y when the needle jacks are plared in the needle slots. the ovl-- inder forms .sulistantiallY one solid hand. .so that all lialiilit)v of bending' tln` rihs oli tht` cylinder through the elig=lgolnv|it ol' the butts o'lj theneedles with the pi '^l; rs` or with other operatingr parts, avoided.

The main object is tovstreiigftlien. the wallol the c vlil-ider hy filling the slots so that the accidental displacement -offthe butts will.

viens, and Will in part be hereinafter more fully described. n In the drawings, which show by way oi? illustration one embodiment of the invention, Figure I, is aV plan view of the needle cylinder, the supporting shelf and. the conm trolling parts for the needles. liig. '.l'L'is a.

partial plan sectional view, showing the snp' porting shelf, the needle cylinder, the pic ers and. the controlling cams for the needles, the parts being positioned for circular huit;H ting. Fig. III, is a view similar to Fig` II, with the parts positioned for the oseillating of the e linderv to form heel and toe pockets. Fig.l I is a view more or less diagiammatic, showing the stitch cams, the pickers, andtl'iecanis for raising and lontirimg` the needles. Fig. V, is a detail view, showing one'of` the narrowing pickers, lifting a new dle hatt from aetive to idle position. liig. VI, is a similar view, showing the lnitt o'l' the needle at the point oi. slipping.; otl trom the picker. Fig. Vil, a. plan view` sinnving a portion of the needle r\'liialer and one of le ,narrowing pickers at the point of rcleasing,lr the needle hut-t. Fig. lll, is a dw tail view, showing the first 'engagement of the picker with the needle butt.. Fig. TX, is a 'detail view, showingr the needle hutt slip- ].iing from the end oi' the int-Iver. Fig, X, is a detail. view, showin-g the widenino picker at the point of releasingT two of the needle butts carried to aetive position thereby. Fig. XT, is a plan view ol the picker, and a seria tional view of the needle evlinder with the parts as .shown in Fig. X. Fig. Xll, is adetail sectional view through the cylinder .showing the needle and needle jarli tor conf The machineronsi-sts' of a needle cylinder l, which 1s provided with a. plurality of spaced ribs 2, forming needle slots to receive the needles. The needles 4, as herein shown, are of the spring beard type. Each needle is detachably connected with a needle jack 5. 'These needle jacks engage the needle slots, and are substantially the same width as the ribs 2, of the. cylinder, and substantially the same thickness as the distance between the ribs forming the needle slots, so that when the needle jacks are placed in the needle slots, the entire space between the ribs is lled by the jacks, and the cylinder presents at this point substantially one solid band. By this construction of needle jack, I am able to make a very small needle cylinv der, having comparatively thin ribs.

The needle is bent outwardly at its lower end and extends down the outer face of the needle jack, and the extreme lower end o the needle is formed with a hook 6, which engages a slot in the needle jack at a point directly above the butt 7, of the jack 5. When the needle is connected with the jack,

,Y the same will assist in holding the jack in place in the needle slots. The needles are held in place at a point above the jack by flexible bands 8, which are of the usual type,

While I have shown and described the needle as attached to a needle jack having aV butt, it is obvious from certain aspects' of the invention, that the butts may be formed directly in the needles, and hereinafter I 'lll refer to these butts 7, as the needle butts.

The needles are formed in two series, that 1s, one series of the needles has short butts, while in the other series each needle is provided with a long butt. During the rotation of the cylinder, the needles are raised and lowered to receive the yarn, to form the loops and to shed the previousloops carried by the needles by stitch cams which are carried by a cam ring v9. The stitch cam 10, operates upon all the needle butts during the rotation of the cylinder, and upon the short needle butts onlyl upon the oscillation of the needle cylinder in one direction. The stitch cam-11, operates solely on the needle butts in action when the cylinder is oscillated in the opposite direction.

In order to carry the needle butts lown into active engagement with the stitch cams, I have provided switch cams 12,- and 13. The switch earn 12, is formed with a long tapered finger 14, which normally rests against the edge of the stitch cam 10. This finger 14, is carried by a. shank 15, which is mounted to slide in a bearing 16, carried by the shelf 17, projecting from the frame of the knitting machine. The switch cam is pressed forward against the needle cylinder, or to active position by a spring 18. A coiled spring`19,'eng'aging a stud ona collar 20, normally rotates the finger 14, so as to hold the same in engagement with the edge' of the stitch cam 10. When the needle cylinder is rotating in the direction of Ithe arrow, Fig. IV, the needle butts will engage the finger 111, of theJ switch cam and Will be guided down the incline of .the stitch cam 10. When the cylinder is movedin the opposite direction, the butts will engage the other side of the switch cam finger 14, which will turn about the axis of its supporting shank against the tension of the coiled spring 19, and allow the needle butts to pass. The switch cam 13, is in. all respects similar to the switch cam 12, except that the coiled spring normally moves theI finger of the switch cam 13, in the opposite direction, and presses the same against the edge of the stitch cam 11, at the opposite side thereof from the stitch cam10. In dotted lines in- Fig. IV,I have shown the position of the switch cam 13, which allows the needle butts t-o pass thereby.

As a means for raising the long butt needles to idle' position, or depress the same to active position, I have provided a raising cam 21, and a. lowering cam 22. These cams 21, and 22, are mounted on a bracket, which is pivoted on a post 23. -When one cam is swung into action, the other cam is swung out of action, as the cams are on opposite sides ot' the pivot point. YVhen the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. III, it will be obvio-us that the long needle butts will engage the raising cam 21, and be moved from an active position t0 an idle position. When .the camv 22, is moved in against the needle cylinder, then the long butt needles will be engaged thereby, and be caused to move from the idle position to the active position. The cams 21, and 22, are moved into and out of position by an arm 24, which carries spaced collars 25. This arm 24, is connected to a second ar1n26, which engages the arm 24, between the collars 25, and a spring 27, normally holds the collar 25, pressed against the arm 26. The arm 2G, is carried by the clutch-shifting bar, so that when the mechanism is shifted in the well known way to cause the cylinder to oscillate, the raising Ica-m 21, is thrown into action to lift the long buttneedles to idle position. On the other hand, when the clutch is shifted to cause the cylinder again to rotate, the lowering cam 22, is thrown into action to depress the idle needle so they will be engaged by the switch cam 12.

In forming stockings with Mel and toe pockets, it is necessary to narrow and widen Ihre picker acts to raise the advance needle in the active series to idle position when the cylinder is moving in one direction, and the other picker acts to raise the advance needle to idle position when the cylinder is movil'igin the opliosite direction. The picker 27, consists of a shank portion 2S, which is pivoted on a stud 2S), carried by z bracket mounted on the supl'iorting shelf. This stud 2t), is inclined so that as the shank QS, swings about thesanie, the picker `linger 27, carried by the shank will swing in an inclined direction from one horizontal plane to another. then the needle butt engaifes ythe picker, it Awill be moved from one lavel to another level. The picker linger 27, is clamped in the shank by a suitable set', screw 3l. By this construction of separate linger.; and supporting shank, when a picker finger is broken, bent or worn, it may be easily removed, and rei'ilaced at very little cost. The outer en d of the picker, more clearly shown in Figs. V to IX inciusive, is chamferedas at 32. The active side of the picker, that is, the side facing the needle butt which to be lifted, is cut away to form a shoul der As the cylinder rotates, the needle butt Y, will be carried on to theshoulder 33, and against ythe side face 34, of the picker, as shou'lnin Figs. V, and VIII.` lThe continued mwernent of the cylinder' will cause the shainl; of the picker to swing about its `end of the pielnu"`finger.

inclined axis, and the needle to be raised in the needle slot to the position shown in Figs. VI, and IX.. When the needle reaches this position ,:the angular position of the finger 2-7, is such that the needle butt will slip past the end of the picker finger. It -will be seen by reference to Fig. VI, that the chainfered end of the picker underlies the butts of the already inactive needles, so that these needles are not interfered with during the inotion of the picker, and the picker may therefore be so shaped as 'to carry the needle to full inactive position before releasing the saine. In other words, this chamfered end forms a clearance for the butts of the inactive needles. i

'lt will bc apparent, therefore, that thc pif-ker herein shown engages the needle butt while at its lower level, and carries the needle butt tothe extreme upper level, whcrcthc picker linger is released from the needle butt,

through the movement of the needle cylinder., and the construction of the outer active Through this acliun of the pii'zlror which carries the needle l'roin one extreme position to another, I am able to delaway with the nulnerons cams usually eiuplrrved to assist in carrying the, needles from one level to the. othcr.-'and further-nuire shorter needles may be used and the distance through which the needles are carried to render the same` inactive is reduced to a lnininnnn.

The picker linger-35, iscarried by a shank 3G, piroted on a stud 'inclined to the vertical, and carried by a supporting bracket on the supporting shelf of the machine. This picker 35, is like in construction,ithepickcr 2T, except that the shoulder of the picker finger 35 is on the opposite side, so as to cooperate with the advance needle on the opposite side o f the series,`and while the cylinder is moving in the opposite direction.

The function of the pickers for narrowing the heel and toe pockets, isso wellknown that further description thereof is not thought necessary. i

The widening picker consists of Va picker finger 37. This picker inger is rigidly carried by a yoke 38, see Fig. XI, which in turn is pivoted at 39, to a plate 40, which is also pivoted at Ll1, to a supporting bracket 42. The axis of the support for the plate 40, is

lpractically at right anglesvto the pivotal 1 ing the picker finger' 37. A similar stop 44,

limits the ultnvardswing of the plate 40. A spring 45,"is attached to the bracket 42, and at its free end engages the shank supporting the picker finger 37. This spring 4tends to force the picker finger upward, and

to hold the same in the position shown in Fig. IV, i

It -will be readily understood that :the shank supporting the picker finger 37, may swing about the axis 39, andthe picker thereby moved in an inclined direction relative to the movement of the cylinder. The

shank supporting the picker-37, mayvalso be i swung about the axis 41, 1n an opposite inclined direction relative to the movement ofy the needle cylinder. If, therefore, thc picker is held in the position shown'in Fig. IV, and a needle butt engages the same, the Inova meut of the cylinder in one. direction willy swing thcyoke 38,- about its axis, and the movement of the cylinder' in the opposite direction when the needle butt strikes the opposite side of the picker finger',l will swing thc plate .40, about itsV axis. Then the picker finger is released from the needle buttsa.nd is in active position, the spring 45, will atf once return the same to the posi-l tion shown in Fig. IV,

The forward end of the picker finger 37, formed wi th a projecting shoulder 4G, on one side, and a projecting shoulder el?, onthe other side. These-projecting shoulders overhang the'side wallsy of the finger, which l is chamfered on its lower face, as at 48. The

overhanging shoulders 16, and 47, are of sufficient width to engage two adjacent needle butts, so that when the cylinder is moving in yonev direction, two needles will be engaged by the widening picker, and be moved from the` idle level to the active level, and when the needle butts reachthe active level, the position of the picker finger is such that the butts will slide past the end of the linger, the chamfered surface of the lower face thereof, clearing the butts of the active series, so that the picker is released and may be returned to normal position through the action of the spring 45.

The function and 'action of the widening picker is so well known that further de,- scription thereof isnot thought necessary. In order that the needle cylinder may be rotated for circular knitting, it is essential and, therefore, it is not necessary to move to provide some means for throwing the widening picker out of action. This is accomplished in the present embodiment of my invention by an arm 49, which is mounted on the pivot 50, and is operated by a second arm 51. A bar 52, may be controlled by the action of the machine, for moving' the arm 49. lVhen the arm 49, is swung toward theneedle cylinder, it will engage the plate 40, and swing the same, so as to force the picker lfinger 37, out of contact with the needle cylinder and to inactive position as shown in Fig. II.

In order to throw the narrowing picker 27, Iout of action, the lowering cam 22, is formed with anarm'53, which has a cam face 54, adapted to engage the stud 31, which secures the picker finger to the supporting shank. lIVlien this lowering cam 22, is thrown into action -to bring the long butt needles into active position, the picker will be engaged by this cam surface and moved laway from the cylinder to inactive position as shown in Fig. II. During the movement of the cylinder in the direction of the arrow in Fig. III, the picker finger 35, is inactive,

this picker finger away from the needle cylinder.

After the finishing of the knitted article, it is sometimes desirable to bring the needles all to the same level for the purpose of trans.

ferring the knitted article. If the switch cam 12, is moved away from the needle cylinder, so as to allow the short'butt needles to pass the sameth en said short butt needles instead of being carriedido'wn into action with theistitch cam 10, will float over the stitch cam. It'is also necessary to move the vpicker finger, out -of action in lleveling the needles, so that these butts will -not strike the same.' In the ordinary knitting, the butts of the needles following the stitch cam are carried underneath the picker 35, n

' needlelin' the active sr-iriegan so that it is .not necessary to move it out of 1 active position, but when the needle butts are not moved down by the switch cam l2, then it is necessary to move the picker to inactive position. It the machine is sto ped when the short butt needles are at the ont of the machine, and out -of engagement with the stitch cams, and the switch cam l2, moved out so as to allow the short butt needles to pass over the top of the stitch cam, it will. readily be seen that a half rotation of the cylinder will not disturb the level of the short butt needles, but as the switch cam is still in active engagement with the long butt needles, these needles will be raised to the inactive level whereupon the cylinder may be readily removed, as all the needles are now at an inactive level.

As a means for simultaneously moving the switch cam 12, and the picker 35, out of $5 active position, I .have provided a lever 55, which is pivoted at 56, to the frame ofthe machine, and is held by a spring 57, against a` stop shown at 58. This lever at its outer end carries a rounded portion 59, which engages the collar 20, on the shank of the switch cam 12, and upon the swinging of the lever 55, ythe part 59, will engage the collar and movethe switch cam out far enough to allow the shortbutt needles to pass. A second arm 60, is carried by the lever 55, and this arm engages a pin 61, on the` shank of the picker 35, and 'raises the picker to inactive position, so as to allow the short butt needles to pass the same. The arm 60, and the end of the lever 59, are so positioned, relative to the parts which are operated by the same, so that the picker may be moved a sulicient distance to render it inactive, and the switch cam moved a slight distance and only suliicient towithdraw it from coperation with the short butt needles. The operation of thev devices above de scribedwill be obvious. The needle cylinder may be operated for circular knitting, in which case the butts of all the needleswill engage the switch cam 12, which carries the same down into engagement with the stitch cam, whereby the needlesaredepressed at is thrown into action. l Upon thel first -r'everse movement .of the i needle cylinder picker 3,5, will engage the butt .of thevvlu-,st

`the sa me; 13a I l li to the idle level. On the reverse movement oil the z'ieedle cylinder, the picker 27, will engage the butt ot' the advanced needle on the op]iosite side of the needles in the ac-.

in the idle series and move the same down to the activo level., reverse and continue widenknitting,'the lowering cam is brought into action through a .movement of the arm 24, which lowers all the needles into active relation with the stitch cams. the picker 2i', is thrown out ofaction.

lV hen it is desired to level the needles, the lever 55, moved by the operator which lever will .first throw the, picker 35, to inactive position and then move the switch cam 'y so as to liiring it out of engage- -i the short butt needles, but allow the saine to operate upon the long butt needles. '.llhe switch cam is thrown out so as to engage the long butt needles only when the short butt needles are at the front of the" niathine.` Il. the cylinder is thenturned, the short lnitt needles will not be acted'upon by the ijiickers, nor by the stitch cams, but will rcn'iain at the same level while the long butt needle-lpassing through the stitch cams will all he raised to the level of the short butt needles, provided, of course, that the needle ojvlindcr `is stopped when the long butt neen illes are'atthe front of the .machine lfiy this arrangement I um able to bring all theV needles to a level. hy siinply shifting to a slight indent, oneolf the stitchcams.

lt is olwio'us that minor changes in the details of construction may be made withhut departing from the spirit ot' the invention as set loi-tl fin the appended claims.

l'laving thus-ioscrilwd invention, I

shoulder on the picker to move said picker to said hnttto the 'l'ull idle level, the upraif .e oll said picker' when raisedlo full extent being substantially in line` with the under iai-o oi' the liults ol' the idle needles, whereby said picker may pass underneath said butts and clear the saine. l

In a knitting machine, the combination oit a needle cylinder; a series oi needles having. Upon the'shiiiting of the-clutch to canse the cylinder to rotate for circular At this time,

ing butts or the like carried thereby; a narrowing picker, said narrowing picker having a shoulder adapted to be engaged by the butt of the needle; means for pivoting said picker whereby the same swings about an inclined axis and carries the needle butt from a lower level to an idle level, the outer upper end of the picker being chamiered to clear the butts of the idle series and allow the butt of the needle to be raised to full idle. level without disturbing the otheridle needles.

3. 4In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder; a plurality of needles carried thereby; needle4 jacks for engaging and moving said needles, each needle jack having a butt formed with a square outer lower corner; a picker h'aving a shoulder for engaging the square corner of' saidy butt; means for pivoting said picker, so that the same swings about an inclined axis to carry the needle from a lower level to an idle level, the upper -end ofA said picker being chamfered to clear the butts of the already inactive series of needles.

4. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder; a series of needles having long lbutts and a series'of needles having short butts carried by said needle cylinder; a raising cam for lifting the needles having long butts to idle level; a lowering camA for moving thev needles with the long butts to active position, said cams being rigidly attached to a ivoted bracket on `opposite sides of the pivotal point thereof, whereby when one cam is thrown into action, the other cam is positively thrown out of action;

a narrowing picker; and a cam plate carried by the bracket supporting the raising and lowering cams for engaging and moving the picker to inactive position upon the moving into action of the lowering cam.

5. In a knitting machine, the combination of a 'needle cylinder, a plurality of needles having butts or the like carried `by the cylinder, an widening picker, a pivoted yoke supporting said widening picker, a pivoted plate engaging said yoke, the axis of the plate and the axis oi" the yoke being-substantially at right angles to each other; a stop For limiting the upward swinging movenient of thc plate; a stop for limitin the upward swinging movement A of the yo e; a spring engaging the picker for normally holding the yoke and plate in engagement with the stops, said picker consisting of a finger having oppositely disposed overhanging ledges adapted to engage two needle `butts, said picker having a notched working end to engage a needle butt at the inactive level and through the movement of the cylinder depress said needle to full active level, said picker having its lower face cut away to clear the needles when "said needles are at full lower level. Y

(3. In ii knitting machine, the con'ibinatiou of a needle cylinder; a plurality of butt needles carried thereby; a widening picker axis against the tension of the spring.

7. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder; a plurality of butt needles carried thereby; a widening picker; a pivoted yoke supporting said widening picker; a pivoted plate carrying saidyoke, the axis of the yoke and the axis of the plate being substantially at right angles to each other; a stop for limiting the upward swinging movement of the plate; a stop for limiting the upward swinging movement of the yoke; a spring engaging the picker for normally` holding the yoke and the plate in enf gageinent with the stops, said picker consisting of a inger having oppositely disposed overhanging ledges adapted to engage the two needle butts, the lower corner of said picker finger being chainfered to allow the same to clear the butts of the active series while throwing the to fulll active level.

8. ln a knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder; a plurality of needles, needle jacks engaging said needles, said needle jacks having butts formed with square upper corners; a widening picker consisting of a finger having ovei-hanging ledges adapt-ed to engage the but-ts on the needle jacks, and having its lower face chaiufered so as to release vand clear the butts of the needles when in active position.

9. In a knitting. machine, the combination of a needle cylinder adapted to rotate and to oscillate; a series of short butt needles and a. series of long butt needles carried thereby; stitch cams coperating with said butt needles; switch cams for moving thel needles engaged buttsinto engagement with the stitch cams pickers coperating with the needle butts upon the oscillation of the cylinder; 'means for rendering one of said pickers inactive during circular knitting; and means for throwing out of action the other picker and moving the switch cam laterally from engagement with the short butt needles only. whereby said needles are leveled for-transferring.

l0. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder adapted to' rotate for rendering one of said pickers inactive' during circular knitting; a lever having Aan arm for engaging the other picker, and an arm for engaging the switch cam and moving the same from engagement with the short butt needles.

11. Ina knitting machine, the combina tion of a needle cylinder adapted to rotate and to oscillate; a series ofshort butt needles and a series of long butt needles carried thereby, stitch cams coperating with said butt needles; switch cams for moving the butts into engagement with the stitch cams; pickersl coperating with the` needle butts upon the oscillation of the cylinder; means for rendering one of said pickers inactive during circular knitting; a lever having an arm for engaging the other picker, and an arm for engaging the switch cam and moving the same from engagement with the short butt needles, said arms being so dis-A signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this eighth day of May 1911.

ALBERT M. PIGEoN.

Witnesses:

JAMES BELL, E. L. FULLERTON, 

